Press Release

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –The Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB) met via conference call on Friday, December 14th to discuss passage of the Board’s annual report and the appointment of a permanent Executive Director. The meeting was chaired by Florida Insurance Commissioner, Kevin McCarty, and was open to the general public.

By a unanimous vote, Board members participating on the conference call adopted the FHIAB Annual Report, entitled “2012 Florida Health Insurance Market Report”. This report is completed as an annual requirement by the Florida Legislature.

This year’s report provided a five-year trend analysis of premium and enrollment for different types of health insurance coverages from 2007-2011.Furthermore, it contained financial data by market segment, and highlights direct premiums/losses and loss ratios for 2010 – 2011. Although the impending implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) was not directly discussed, it was noted in the report that it is likely to have some marketplace consequences for the 2013 report, which is based on the 2012 year-end data.

The final action of the Board was the unanimous approval of the Audit Committee’s recommendation to appoint Acting Executive Director, Michelle Newell, to the permanent position of FHIAB Executive Director. Ms. Newell is currently the President & CEO of Innovative Edge Consulting, Inc., and has also served as Vice President of the American Guaranty Fund Group, Inc. Prior to her private sector experience, she served for 10 years in various management roles at the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

About the Florida Health Insurance Advisory Board (FHIAB)The Board was established by the Florida Legislature in 1992 as the Small Employer Health Reinsurance Program for the purpose of promoting availability of health care coverage to small employers. In 2005, the Legislature expanded the composition of the Board to include representatives of employers, an individual policyholder and a representative from the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The Board's responsibilities have also been expanded to serve in an advisory role to the Office of Insurance Regulation, AHCA, the Department of Financial Services, other executive departments and the Legislature on health insurance issues. ​

About the Florida Office of Insurance RegulationThe Florida Office of Insurance Regulation (Office) has primary responsibility for regulation, compliance and enforcement of statutes related to the business of insurance and the monitoring of industry markets. For more information about the Office, please visit www.floir.com or follow us on Twitter @FLOIR_comm.​​